Do you have a BBQ hangover? Too many ribs? You aren’t alone!But if you can get off the couch and make it to the store, there are a lot after the 4th sales going on. Don’t miss out. Here’s what you should get.

Fireworks-this is obvious, but you’ll have to search. Most firework stands close up early on the 4th, but you can find some leftovers. Stores like Target and Wal-Mart usually have packages too that they cut way back the day after.Meat and BBQ supplies-A lot of stores stock up on meat and reduce it the day after to move it out more quickly. It’s definitely worth checking out since you can freeze meat.Bread-more specifically buns. These make amazing garlic toast, so buy them up!Department store sales-Most places like at the mall and such are having 4th of July sales. You can usually find really great deals coupled with coupons they’ve either sent out or they are handing out.Decorations-All the plates, cups and other decorations for the 4th will be on sale. Go back even on the 6th for deeper discounts. And I’ll let you in on a secret, food tastes the same on those plates a few days later.

The 4th is upon us! That means BBQs, swimming, fireworks and spending money. Like most holidays, your wallet can get hit hard. Fireworks alone have a markup of around 200%! Make sure you check out the post we did last year about saving money on fireworks. But fireworks aren’t the only way you can save money. Check out these other tips for saving money on this patriotic holiday.

1. Have a potluck. Don’t try to do a big BBQ all on your own. Instead spent it with friends or family and have everyone bring something. You still get to have fun and eat a great meal, but while saving money.

2. Check your town’s event calendar or the chamber of commerce calendar. The 4th is usually full of free events and parades. And who doesn’t love a parade!?

3. Go to a public fireworks display. This is another most likely free event your town may have. You don’t have to buy the fireworks, do the work to set them off or clean up the mess of them. Have someone else do all that and sit back and enjoy!

4. Make your own desserts. Don’t buy all the cutesy 4th of July desserts. It’s much cheaper to make your own. Check out THIS fruit pizza recipe. I had this several years ago at a 4th of July party and now I have to have it every year. It’s so cheap to make too!

Happy 4th of July! We hope you have a fabulous day with your friends and family!

We can’t wait for all of the awesome fireworks. My kids LOVE them and we love pass4sure MB2-867 on their face when they see them, but we don’t exactly love the hit our wallet takes. Fireworks are anything but cheap. The markup is somewhere around 30 times the actual cost. We’ve learned over the years how to save money when we buy Fireworks. And it’s not too late! Here are some of our Thrifty Diva tips to saving money on Fireworks.

1. Wait until the last minute to purchase your fireworks. Most stands will mark their stuff WAY down as the 4th of July night goes on. So the closer you get to closing time, the less things cost. You may not get exactly what you were after, but you’ll still get quality items at a much lower price.

2. Purchase fireworks as a group. There is no need to do your fireworks alone. Grab some friends and pool your money together and buy a ton of entertainment for the night. When you bring your money together you can really get a lot of stuff!

3. Avoid the fireworks sold in grocery stores or even places like Wal-Mart and Target. I could totally be wrong, but in my opinion the fireworks sold in those little bundles aren’t very high quality. So don’t waste your money on those, hit the stands instead.

4. Don’t buy them at all! Chances are your town or a nearby town will have a Fireworks display. Go to that instead of spending your money. Enjoy the fact that someone else spent money and that they will probably be better than anything you could buy anyway. The best fireworks display I ever saw wasn’t put on me and I didn’t spend pass4sure EC0-232 a dime!

What says happy 4th of July more than burgers and coffee? How about free burgers and and free coffee? Sounds good to me! Here are a few freebies you can score on this 4th!

Carl’s Jr and Hardees

Carl’s Jr is giving a way free burgers to people who dress up like Spiderman (no masks)! All you’ve got to do is dress up like Spiderman (no masks) and head to your local Carl’s Jr. tomorrow, 7/4. If you’re one of the first 50 people at your local Carl’s Jr, you’ll get a free Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger! If you’d rather not dress up, you can print out a coupon to save $1.00 on your burger. Visit Carl’s Jr.’s website for more information.

Starbucks

All Starbucks locations will be giving away a tall, hot brewed coffee! No coupon needed! All you need to do is go in to your local Starbucks and ask. Visit their website if you’d like more information.

Ikea

If you happen to be shopping at Ikea on the 4th, your children (under 12) can get a free meal! Limit one meal per child per visit. No adult purchase necessary. Kids under 12 only. Child must be present. Offer not valid at IKEA Houston. Check your local IKEA store for details.

Brunswick Bowling

If your 4th of July activities include a little bowling, be sure to head to Brunswick Bowling for a free game!

Which of the freebies will you enjoy on the day we celebrate our freedom?

Another new month means a new sales cycle. Here are a few things to look for this month!

National Dairy month. Did you know that June is National Dairy Month? I’m all for national dairy month since it means that we should be seeing promotions on milk, eggs, yogurt, ice cream and all things dairy. This may be a good time to stock up on cereal, as you can expect cereal to be on sale along with the milk.

Grilling. Since summer time means grilling and June means Father’s Day, we can expect a lot of grilling promotions, meat sales and other stereotypical deals for dads. As such, we may see increased sales for shaving gel, razors and deodorant.

Camping. Throughout the summer, we will see sales on camping related items: foods like marshmallows, graham crackers, chili, hot dogs and chips. In addition to the foods, there should be deals on coolers, camping chairs and tents.

4th of July – Toward the end of June we should see deals for Independence Day celebrations. This should include your typical grilling foods, berries, soda, chips and foods for all your Fourth festivities.